Did Trump Announce a Breakthrough in Gaza Peace Talks?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza peace plan.
- Hostages are expected to be released soon.
- Israel is set to withdraw troops to an agreed boundary.
- Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey played a crucial role.
- A final draft of the agreement is currently being prepared.
Washington, Oct 9 (NationPress) The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has declared that both Israel and Hamas have officially agreed to the initial phase of a peace plan for Gaza.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated, "This indicates that ALL hostages will be released imminently, and Israel will pull back its troops to a mutually accepted boundary as foundational steps toward a Strong, Durable, and Everlasting Peace."
He expressed gratitude to the mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey for facilitating this historic and unprecedented milestone.
Earlier, while addressing reporters at the White House, Trump mentioned that he might visit the Middle East "sometime towards the end of the week."
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas commenced on Monday at Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh.
According to mediators involved in the discussions, an agreement detailing all aspects and implementation strategies related to the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal has been finalized, with a complete draft in progress, as reported by Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV on Thursday.
The agreement is set to bring an end to the conflict, secure the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave, with more details to follow, stated the report.
This announcement follows three days of indirect discussions between Hamas and Israel in Sharm el-Sheikh to negotiate a peace plan initiated by Trump, as per reports from the Xinhua news agency.
On Wednesday, the negotiations included delegations from the United States, Qatar, and Turkey, in addition to representatives from Hamas and Israel.
During a televised address on Wednesday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi remarked that the discussions in Sharm el-Sheikh were progressing favorably.
Since the conflict reignited on October 7, 2023, Israeli airstrikes have severely impacted the Gaza Strip, leading to widespread famine and displacement, with at least 67,183 casualties and 169,841 injuries reported by Gaza's health authorities.